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“But don’t you see how backward that is? You thought you wanted your ex. And now you want me? Who’s to say I won’t turn out just like her?”
He brought her hands to his lips. “You are nothing like her. I knew it from the very first moment I laid eyes on you. Besides not being the type to walk away from a child and being there for the long haul, you know your place in this world. You probably had that all figured out since you were a child. I have never had a woman put me in my place nearly as many times as you seem to be comfortable with.”
She made a face. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. You’re right.”
Dianna blinked.
He chuckled again. “I bet you didn’t think you’d hear me say those words, did you?”
She shook her head.
“Yeah. I’ve had some time to think about some of your soap boxes, and I have to say you make several good points. It’s too bad that people have this view of those with disabilities. The statistics are amazing. So many people don’t even know how to interact with someone who simply thinks differently than they do. I’m not saying that the world is ready to change its ways immediately, but I do think something has to happen to help the new generation navigate their futures.” He took a step toward her. “As a father, I’m guilty of trying to prepare my son for the current state of the world. When I should also be trying to educate the world in preparation for children like Mathew.”
To say she had a shocked expression would have been an understatement. On this topic specifically, they had always butted heads. It was different being the parent than it was being an outside voice. But after speaking with Dianna’s sister, he came to realize that Dianna wasn’t offering her opinion as a typical person.
She was atypical in every sense of the word.
And he loved that about her more than she would ever know.
Tristan cleared his throat, forcing himself to drop her hand and brought his up to rub the back of his neck. “You know what I realized today? I’m never going to find someone as good as you. It would be a miracle to meet that kind of person twice in a lifetime. I had you and for whatever reason, I lost you. But I’m not going to let that stand in my way.”
Her eyes widened, causing him to second-guess the path he’d started down.
“I need you to know that I don’t want anyone else but you. I could say my reasons stem from Mathew’s needs and knowing just how good you are with him… but that’d be a lie. If I were completely honest with both you and myself, I’d have to say I’m being selfish. I want you inmylife. And I’m willing to wait as long as it takes. I don’t care if it takes a month, a year, or ten years. I’m not going anywhere.”
The shock was less noticeable now, but there was something else. It ran deeper, and he wasn’t sure what it was exactly. She almost looked like she was about to cry. Her eyes were red-rimmed. But then she looked away.
Well, at least she wasn’t running. She could have argued with him, too, but she didn’t do that. And she didn’t pull her hand from his grasp. Did that mean she was considering his words? His chest burst with a warm surge of hope. This was a dangerous game.
No, not a game.
This was his life. It was real and it could be ugly or painful, but it could also be filled with charity and faith. He only had to be patient.
Tristan released her hand and took a step back. “I’m going to be ready whenever you are. I’m planning on finding a place to stay in town. I’d also like to speak to you and Shane about continuing Mathew’s therapy for as long as it suits you. I won’t pressure you into anything you’re not ready for—”
“I love you.”
His voice died in his throat. He had to be hallucinating. There hadn’t been a doubt in his mind that he’d overstepped based on her expression. Then again, she was a queen at keeping her emotions hidden. Dianna was the type of person who only allowed certain people past her defenses, and he’d been lucky enough to be one of them when they’d gotten close.
“I love you,” she repeated as she stepped toward him, closing the gap he’d created. “But I’m scared.” She reached for his hand and laced her fingers between his. Her voice lowered so much he almost couldn’t hear it over the sound ofJingle Bell Rockplaying inside. “I’m terrified that if I let myself start on this path and it turns out to be the wrong one, that we’ll get hurt and it will be all my fault.” She peeked at him. “It’s a pretty stupid fear, isn’t it?”
His hand tightened on hers. “That’s a completely reasonable fear.” He couldn’t deny it hurt a little to know she was more worried over the relationship failing than she was about the happy moments they might share. But then Mathew could fixate on the hard stuff occasionally, too. Tristan placed his free hand against her cheek, relishing the way she leaned into his touch. “But I’ll let you in on a little secret. I can’t think of a single person who hasn’t experienced that worry at least once in their life. It might not matter to you that other people go through this every single time they start a new relationship, but let me assure you, it’s more common than you think.”
For the first time since his confession, she gave him a genuine smile. “You know, even though you might think that I’ve got some worthy qualities, that’s one that I know I don’t have.”
“What’s that?” Amusement crept into his voice.
“Your uncanny ability to make me look at things in a different light. How you go out of your way to make me feel better about something. Even my family can lose their patience with me. But not you.” She pressed her lips together and bit down on them. “I love you.”
“So you said.” He chuckled.
“Yeah, well, I wanted to make sure you know before you go chatting up the girls at this party.”
His mouth dropped open. “What?” A shocked laugh escaped his lips.
“I saw you talking to that girl earlier.” Her face blushed a shade brighter than he’d ever seen. “And I’d be lying to you if I said it didn’t make me feel a little bit jealous.”
